Wagashi Forest Introduction
The master of black tea, Shi Chao-xing, graduated from the "Tea Industry Training Institute" in his early years. In 1951, he was sent to work at the "Chimuku Black Tea Factory" by the Japanese, inheriting the tea-making techniques from the old tea masters and serving as the "Factory Director" until his retirement. His passion and dedication to black tea witnessed the rise and fall of the Sun Moon Lake black tea industry. At one time, Sun Moon Lake black tea was extremely popular, from the cultivation efforts in the early Japanese occupation to the prosperous tea-growing years of the 1960s. However, with dramatic changes in the tea industry and the influx of cheap foreign tea, the Sun Moon Lake black tea industry gradually declined. The old tea master has been planting and processing tea for half a century, cherishing his connection to the land and hoping for the industry's revival. While others became wealthy from planting betel nuts, he insisted on growing tea, choosing to believe that black tea would one day regain its glory. For Shi Chua-hua and Chen Yan-quan, a couple who have inherited the artisan spirit and tea-making skills of his father for two generations, they are committed not just to making great tea but also to ensuring that good tea is recognized, thus creating a new look for Sun Moon Lake black tea. In 2015, they established a tourism tea factory, providing a place to witness the historical and cultural development of the Sun Moon Lake black tea industry. This establishment aims to help more people understand the knowledge of the black tea industry, contribute to the local cultural heritage, and further promote the culture of Sun Moon Lake black tea, showcasing the revival of tea arts to the world.
